Tarik Skubal has been a Los Angeles Dodger for less than a week, but he already seems to have his mind on a potential return to the Detroit Tigers as a free agent this offseason.
It’s been an emotional time for the superstar pitcher, who was dealt to the Dodgers for three prospects late last Saturday night, and it’s clear those emotions have yet to truly settle. During a recent appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, Skubal opened up about how hard it’s been to leave Detroit, emphasizing his strong desire to come back to the Motor City this winter.
“Yeah no doubt and it sucks for me too this wasn’t the way this season was supposed to go. Going into the offseason the people that we acquired through free agency and who we signed I’m like this is the World Series team. It’s tough from my end too I would love to play my entire career in Detroit, I would love to. And hopefully those negotiations can pick back up in November once the playoffs are done and we’ll see how that goes you know hopefully they’re involved with everything, I would love to return…Yeah it’s tough you know I’m gonna try not to cry right now but I love all those guys so hopefully they’re involved in November and we’ll see what happens then,”
The 29-year-old Skubal is posied to hit free agency this Winter, currently playing on the one-year, $32 million contract extension he signed with the Tigers in February after winning his arbitration case. He’s gone 7-6 across 17 starts this season, sporting a 2.81 ERA with 122 strikeouts and just 16 walks in the process.
Dodgers fans probably don’t want to be hearing that from the guy they just traded for, so it will be interesting to see how it all plays out for Skubal in Los Angeles down the stretch and into the postseason.
His heart is clearly still with Detroit, and if the Tigers do pony up and provide him with a strong enough offer in free agency, then a return is very much in play for the two-time Cy Young winner.
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